Emiliano Spataro on pole for Super TC 2000 season opener

Emiliano Spataro has set the fastest time in qualifying for the first round of the 2016 Argentinian Super TC 2000 Championship at Trelew for Renault. The 39-year-old was just 0.028 faster than Chevrolet’s Agustín Canapino, with Renault team-mate Leonel Pernía third fastest.

Spataro’s time of 1:17.928 at the 4km circuit was enough to secure pole in the third segment of qualifying in Renault Fluence, with the French marque fielding a five-strong effort for 2016.

Canapino, back at YPF Chevrolet after a two-year stint with Peugeot, was up to speed with the Chevrolet Cruze, but just missed out on pole position on his return to the US marque, splitting the two Renaults of Spataro and Pernía in qualifying.

Matías Rossi was fourth fastest in the Toyota Team Argentina-run Corolla, with Javier Merlo fifth fastest for Fiat Petronas in the Linea, just ahead of team-mate José Manuel Urcera.

Christian Ledesma was seventh fastest in his Renault, with Mariano Werner eighth fastest and the best placed of the Peugeot Total Argentina drivers on his debut for the French manufacturer.

Bernardo Llaver, now at Fiat, was ninth quickest, with Toyota’s Esteban Guerrieri completing the top ten, just a tenth off of Spataro’s time in the close session.

Former champion Norberto Fontana missed the opportunity to take part in Q3 after setting the 12th fastest time in his Chevrolet Cruze, with Renault’s new signing Facundo Ardusso also just missing the top ten cut-off and will start in 11th.

The two Super 8, eight lap qualifying races take place on Sunday morning at 9:15 and 9:45 local time, before the main event of 25 laps at 12:10 ART.